According to the NGA, the new initiative will enlist the efforts of all governors to enact clean energy policies at the state level. In addition to the support of Pawlenty and Sebelius, the initiative will be guided by a task force of governors from Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington.

As part of this initiative, the NGA says it will distribute guides and reports and coordinate regional workshops and national summits to help governors understand the specific energy challenges in their states. The initiative also will emphasize the role of public-private partnerships to generate increased use of clean energy and advanced energy technologies.

The U.S. Department of Energy will provide $610,000 to support NGA's work to enact energy policies at the state level, $550,000 for NGA's Securing a Clean Energy Future initiative and $60,000 to support NGA's efforts to increase electricity assurance.